What is a Predicate? (Definition, Types, Examples, Simple, Compound, More)

What is a predicate? How does a predicate work? What is a compound, simple, and adjunct predicate? How are they different? These are all great questions about predicates. To get answers, continue reading this comprehensive English grammar guide.

What is a predicate?

The part of the sentence that tells us about the subject of the sentence is the predicate. The predicate contains the verb. This tells us what the subject is or does. Objects, compliments, and other adverbial qualifiers are contained in the predicate.

If the predicate only contains a verb or verb phrase then it is a simple predicate. If other qualifiers are present, it is a complete predicate. The subject and the predicate together complete a meaningful sentence.

Definition

The predicate qualifies the subject. It gives us information about the person, place, or thing the sentence is referring to.

Form	Definition
Predicate	The term predicate is used in one of two ways in linguistics and its subfields. The first defines a predicate as everything in a standard declarative sentence except the subject, and the other views it as just the main content verb or associated predicative expression of a clause. (Wikipedia)

How is the Subject Related To The Predicate?

Every sentence is about a person, place, or thing. This is the subject. It can be a noun, a pronoun, or a nominal phrase. The rest of the information about this subject is contained in the predicate. In other words, everything in a sentence, except the subject, is the predicate.

The predicate has the verb, which tells us the action performed by the subject. It may or may not contain further descriptions of the subject or how it performs its action.

Examples In Sentences

Let us understand the relationship between the subject and the predicate by looking at some examples.

• I dance. In this sentence, the subject is “I”. The action performed by the subject is “dance,” which is the verb. The predicate here is “dance” and it tells us about the subject.
• I dance regularly. In this sentence, the subject is “I.” The predicate is “dance regularly” because it qualifies the subject. The action performed by the subject is “dance” and how it is performed is “regularly”. So the first is the verb and the second is the adverb.

One-word Predicate

In sentences where the predicate contains only the verb, we have one-word predicates.

In these sentences, the subject has no other qualifiers besides the action it performs.

Examples In Sentences

Let us look at some examples of sentences with one-word predicates.

• Rob runs. In this sentence, the subject is “Rob.” The action performed by the subject is “runs.” Since no other qualifiers are present, “runs” is a one-word predicate.
• John sings. In this sentence, the subject is “John”. The action performed by the subject is “sings.” Since no other qualifiers are present, “sings” is a one-word predicate.

Predicate Adjective or Predicative Adjective

Predicate adjectives are adjectives that are connected to the subject by a linking verb. These adjectives describe the subject. They are called predicate adjectives as they appear in the predicate.

Predicate adjectives are different from normal attributive adjectives as they do not appear directly before the noun they qualify.

Grammar Rules

Predicate adjectives appear near the end of sentences or clauses. They appear after a linking verb. So if the predicate does not contain a linking verb, it cannot contain a predicate adjective.

Examples In Sentences

• Jenny is intelligent. In this sentence, the subject is “Jenny”. In the predicate “is intelligent” the linking verb is “is”. The adjective “intelligent” appears after the linking verb and qualifies the subject. So it is a predicate adjective.
• Sam is smart. In this sentence, the subject is “Sam”. In the predicate “is smart” the linking verb is “is”. The adjective “smart” appears after the linking verb and qualifies the subject. So it is a predicate adjective.

Predicate Noun or Predicate Nominative

Predicate nouns or predicate nominative are nouns that appear in a predicate after a linking verb. Predicate nouns describe the state of being of the subject by qualifying its position or identity.

Grammar Rules

It can either be a noun or a noun phrase. It appears in the predicate. It follows a linking verb. It qualifies the subject. It describes the state of the subject. Predicate nouns cannot appear without a linking verb.

Examples In Sentences

• Jim was a coach. In this sentence, the subject is “Jim”. In the predicate “was a coach” the linking verb is “was.” The noun phrase “a coach” qualifies the position the subject held.
• The teacher was her sister. In this sentence, the subject is “The teacher.” In the predicate “was her sister” the linking verb is “was.” The noun phrase “her sister” qualifies the identity of the subject.

Predicate Prepositional Phrase

A predicate prepositional phrase is a prepositional phrase that appears in the predicate after a linking verb and qualifies the location of the subject. A prepositional phrase is a group of words that jointly act as a preposition.

Grammar Rules

It is a phrase that functions as a preposition. It appears in the predicate. It appears after a linking verb. It describes where the subject is located. It cannot occur without a linking verb.

Examples In Sentences

• The rat is in the cage. In this sentence, “The rat” is the subject. In the predicate “is in the cage,” the linking verb is “is”. The preposition phrase “in the cage” describes where the subject is situated.
• The books are on the shelf. In this sentence, “The books” is the subject. In the predicate “are on the shelf,” the linking verb is “are.” The preposition phrase “on the shelf” describes where the subject is situated.

Adjunct Predicate

Adjunct predicate is a part of the predicate which is not central to forming a meaningful sentence. Removing this portion removes some information from the sentence. But the wrestling sentence is still meaningful in its absence. Adjunct predicates are adverbs or adverb phrases.

Grammar Rules

They are usually adverbs or adverbial clauses or phrases. They qualify the action performed by the subject. They are structurally dispensable. Although some grammarians argue that adjuncts are separate from the predicate, most agree that they are a part of the predicate.

Examples In Sentences

• By tomorrow it will all be gone. In this sentence, the subject is “it.” The predicate is “By tomorrow will all be gone.” “By tomorrow” specifies when the action of the subject will occur and is the adjunct predicate.
• He ran quickly. In this sentence, the subject is “He”. The predicate is “ran quickly”. “quickly” specifies how the action of the subject occurred and is the adjunct predicate.

Simple Predicate

A simple predicate is the most fundamental predicate. It contains only the verb and auxiliary verbs.

Grammar Rules

Simple predicates only occur when the subject has no qualifiers. The sentence, in this case, is only the subject and the verb along with auxiliary verbs if they exist.

Examples In Sentences

• I could be right. In this sentence, the subject is “I.” In the predicate “could be wrong” there is a verb “wrong” and the auxiliary verbs “could” and “be.” So this is a simple predicate.
• The new neighbors talk. In this sentence, the subject is “The new neighbor”. In the predicate “talk,” there is only the verb. So this is a simple predicate.

Compound Predicate

When the subject acts on two or more verbs contained in the predicate it is called a compound predicate.

Grammar Rules

The predicate contains two or more verbs. These verbs are not parts of different predicates. They act on the same subject.

Examples In Sentences

• He shaved and bathed before leaving. In this sentence, the subject is “He”. The predicate “shaved and bathed before leaving” contains two verbs, “shaved” and “bathed”. Both act on the same subject “He.” So this is a compound predicate.
• The children ate, drank, and played to their heart’s content. In this sentence, the subject is “The children.” The predicate “ate, drank and played to their heart’s content” contains three verbs “ate,” “drank,” and “played”. All three act on the same subject “The children”. This is a compound predicate.

Complete Predicate

A complete predicate is a predicate where the subject is followed by a verb and other qualifiers. All the words, except the subject and words and phrases describing it, that are contained in the predicate form the complete predicate.

Grammar Rules

It contains a predicate and other qualifiers. It does not contain modifiers that are directly related to the subject.

Examples In Sentences

• All the boys went to school after the long recess. In this sentence, the subject is “All the boys”. The predicate “went to school after the long recess” contains the verb “went” and the qualifiers “to school after the long recess.” So this is a complete predicate.
• The school opened after a long recess. In this sentence, the subject is “The school.” The predicate “opened after a long recess” contains the verb “opened” and the qualifier “after a long recess.” So this is a complete predicate.

Object

The object of a sentence is a part of the predicate which directly receives the action of the verb or indirectly receives the direct object. It can be a noun or a nominal phrase.

Examples In Sentences

• The parrot ate the chilies. In this sentence, the subject is “The parrot.” In the predicate “ate the chilies” the verb is “ate”. The nominal phrase “the chilies” is the direct object as it receives the action of the verb directly.
• The rich man gave his money to the poor. In this sentence, the subject is “The rich man”. In the predicate “gave his money to the poor,” the verb is “gave.” The direct object is “his money,” and the indirect object is “the poor” as it receives the direct object.

Understanding differences between predicate forms

Predicate Noun vs. Predicate Adjective

Predicate nouns and predicate adjectives are parts of the predicate appearing after a linking verb. They are different because one is a noun or a nominal phrase, while the other is an adjective.

Predicate Adjective vs. Attributive Adjective

A predicate adjective only appears in the predicate after a linking verb qualifying only the subject. An attributive adjective can appear in the subject or the predicate, qualifying either the subject or the object.